The total number of jobs cuts announced in 2017 was 418,770, 20.5% fewer than the 526,915 cuts announced in 2016. In 1990, the number of announced job cuts was 316,047. The firm has job cut data going back to 1989.

A significant number of cuts, 191,295 (45%) were a result of cost-cutting, companies said. Another 106,216 (25%) were from businesses closing, and 64,216 (15%) were from restructuring.

U.S.-based employers announced 32,423 job cuts in December, a 7.4% decrease from November's tally of 35,038, and 3.6% decline from the 33,627 cuts in December of 2016.

In Michigan, job cut announcements didn't quite track the national numbers — 13,825 last year, 12,865 in 2016, 9,333 in 2015, 13,342 in 2014, and 12,285 in 2013.

“The retail pivot that caused thousands of store closures and job cuts was not seen in any other industry this year,” Challenger said, referring to the national numbers. “While companies in the pharmaceutical, health-care, construction and food industries did announce more job cuts than last year, it was nothing like the energy cuts seen in the last two years or the financial cuts seen during the recession.”

Last year, the retail industry announced 76,084 job cuts, up 28.2% from 2016, when there were 59,324 job cuts, much of it, the firm said, was tied to thousands of store closings and a shift to online retail.

On Thursday, Macy's announced 5,000 job cuts, including the closure of seven previously unidentified stores. One of them is at Birchwood Mall in Fort Gratiot Township. And on Thursday Sears announced it will close another 64 Kmarts and 39 Sears.

The shifting of retail jobs was reflected in Michigan as the state saw several chain stores shutter, including Bebe, Crazy 8, Gander Mountain, Gymboree, Kmart, Payless Shoes, Radio Shack, Rue 21 and Sears; but it also the creation of thousands of new jobs from the construction and opening of large Amazon.com warehouses.

Health care announced 40,732 job cuts, 118% more than last year’s annual total for the industry of 18,725. The services sector announced 36,174 cuts, nearly four times the number from 2016, which was 9,917.

Challenger added that cuts in the first quarter likely will be related to wage increases and bonuses tied to the passage of the federal tax bill.

AT&T, Comcast NBCUniversal, and Fifth Third Bancorp announced $1,000 bonuses to their eligible employees, he said. Fifth Third Bank and Wells Fargo will increase their minimum wage to $15 an hour.